I consider myself a core supporter of education. I have supported every budget for both East Montpelier and U-32 school district with my vote and voice for over 20 years. However, I will not be supporting the U-32 budget this year and encourage others to do the same. Three out of the seven school board members voted against this budget, which is unprecedented in my memory.

With this budget we will be spending $1,238,250 more than two years ago while reducing the teaching staff by 5 percent. I thought teaching was what the education system was for. This budget does not support education; it supports bureaucracy. We have also burned through $418,000 of fund balance in the last two years — a very bad trend. Using the fund balance for operating revenue is a smoke-and-mirrors game with our tax dollars. It’s time for U-32 to reboot its operating system.